Officer Brandon Brewer with Livingston Police Department at Jack in the Box in Livingston on Friday morning shortly before noon.

Man Facing Charges After Attempting to Assault Uniformed Officer, LIVINGSTON, September 18, 2015 - Shortly after 11 am on September 18, 2015, a uniformed prison guard that was off duty was at Jack in the Box in Livingston and was confronted by a local man who threatened to "put the officer down" as he drew a knife. Other prison guards were nearby and came to the scene. The following is a press release from the Livingston Police Department:

On September 18th, 2015 at 11:14 AM Livingston Police Officers were dispatched to Jack in the Box restaurant located at 211 E Church St. In reference to a disturbance. As Livingston Police officers were arriving on the scene they were advised by witnesses that the actor in the incident had just fled the scene traveling west on Church St in a tan truck. Officers immediately responded to the area that the actors vehicle was last seen and quickly caught up to the vehicle where the subject was detained and identified as Joe Wayne Thinnes, 49, of Livingston, Tx. . During the investigation of the scene officers were advised by witnesses that moments earlier Thinnes had threatened to physically assault a uniformed off duty Texas Department of Criminal Justice employee. According to witnesses Thinnes had approached the officer in the parking lot in a aggressive and belligerent manner. Thinnes then went back to his vehicle where he retrieved a utility knife and then came at the officer again threatening to “put him down”. Thinnes assault of the officer was stopped by additional correction officers who were also at the restaurant. Thinnes then fled the parking lot in his vehicle. A few minutes later witnesses stated that Thinnes returned to the restaurant driving the same vehicle but had changed clothes. Thinnes left again and this is when Livingston Police Officers made contact with him. Livingston Police Officer’s Kaleb Barker and Brandon Brewer took Thinnes into custody charging him with Aggravated Assault on Public Servant a First degree Felony and he was transported to the Livingston Police Department for booking without further incident. This case is still under investigation and additional charges may be pending.

(end of press release)

Joe Wayne Thinnes, 49, of Livingston

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